MAGA group receives big donation, launches attack on Hammer in secretary of state's race

One self-described MAGA group wants voters to believe that a Republican candidate running for secretary of state isn't sufficiently pro-Trump.

Mere days before Tuesday's primary election, Republican Patriots of Arkansas -- a group that says it "support candidates who embody MAGA values and America First principles" -- has begun an attack campaign against state Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, claiming he has "fought hard against the Trump agenda."

In a mass text message, the group claimed Hammer voted to increase taxes on the internet, tires and water, while also voting against legislation to end mask mandates, adding "It's clear -- leftist career politician Hammer is bad for Arkansas."

The group is promoting the candidacy of Bryan Norris, a project manager and U.S. Army veteran from Batesville, for secretary of state, saying he "stands with President Trump."

Recently, the group has had an influx of cash thanks to a $100,000 donation on Feb. 17 from the America Voter Integrity Initiative (AVII), a group that advocates for paper ballots over voting machines. AVII is led by Conrad Reynolds, a retired U.S. Army colonel who ran for Congress in 2022, losing to U.S. Rep. French Hill in the GOP primary.

So far, it is unclear how Republican Patriots of Arkansas plans to spend the money. Attempts to reach Reynolds and Lorri Justice, Republican Patriots of Arkansas' registered agent, were not returned.

In addition to Norris, Republican Patriots of Arkansas has also endorsed Chase McDowell for Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District; Christian Olson for Land Commissioner and Ronald Caldwell and Bryan King for state Senate, according to the group's website.

Republican Patriots of Arkansas -- an independent expenditure committee not affiliated with the state's GOP -- says it supports closed Republican primaries, the state's Freedom of Information Act and "hand marked, hand-counted paper ballots."

Paper ballots is at least one area where Norris, Republican Patriots of Arkansas and AVII all align. Norris has used paper ballots as a wedge issue to differentiate himself from Hammer and Miller County Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison -- his other two opponents.

In response, Hammer said he would support any executive orders on elections from President Donald Trump, and any laws passed by the General Assembly.

He said his record saying legislation he helped sponsor contributed to the state being ranked first on Heritage Foundation's scorecard for election integrity. The Heritage Foundation is a Washington D.C.-based conservative think tank.

"I think that they're just trying to sling mud," Hammer said. "And any time you start slinging mud that's an expression of desperation."

For his part, Norris said he was unaware the Republican Patriots of Arkansas' attacks on Hammer, saying "they're allowed to do whatever they want to do."

"I have not talked about Hammer very much at all," Norris said. "That's not a game I'm about to get down in, I don't need to focus on anybody else, my credentials are what they are."

Harrison said she also wanted to avoid any negative campaigning.

"I think the negativity is unnecessary," Harrison said. "All three candidates have stated what they support and what they do not support and it's up to the people to decide what they want and who they want in office."

Hammer said paper ballots "the dividing issue in this race" with both he and Harrison stating their opposition forgoing voting machines and Norris stating his support for paper ballots.

Norris helped push for Independence County to make the switch to paper ballots in 2024, helping to lead a successful effort. He said if elected, he would enforce an executive order from Trump requiring critical infrastructure, such as voting machines, have no foreign-made components and that they follow Department of Defense guidelines on cyber security.

Hammer said he sees no reason to make the switch saying do so would "take us back 30-plus years in our process."

Early voting has been underway since Feb. 17 with election day coming on Tuesday. If no candidates are able to win more than 50% of the vote, then the race heads to a run-off with the top two vote-getters facing off on March 31.

The winner of the Republican Primary will face Democrat Kelly Grappe and Libertarian Michael Pakko in November's General Election.

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